Not a winning ticket

Josh Ritchie, Sun Sentinel

How it works: Most often the targets are the elderly or Hispanics. The victims are approached in parking lots by a person who says he or she is not a citizen and needs help to redeem a winning Lotto ticket. The victim agrees, is asked to supply "good-faith money" and told reimbursement will come when the ticket is cashed. In another scenario, elderly victims are contacted by a con artist on the phone, who tells the elderly person they have won a lottery or sweepstakes prize but must send money to Jamaica to pay taxes. Where it happened: In South Florida

How it works: Most often the targets are the elderly or Hispanics. The victims are approached in parking lots by a person who says he or she is not a citizen and needs help to redeem a winning Lotto ticket. The victim agrees, is asked to supply "good-faith money" and told reimbursement will come when the ticket is cashed. In another scenario, elderly victims are contacted by a con artist on the phone, who tells the elderly person they have won a lottery or sweepstakes prize but must send money to Jamaica to pay taxes. Where it happened: In South Florida (Josh Ritchie, Sun Sentinel)

How it works: Most often the targets are the elderly or Hispanics. The victims are approached in parking lots by a person who says he or she is not a citizen and needs help to redeem a winning Lotto ticket. The victim agrees, is asked to supply "good-faith money" and told reimbursement will come when the ticket is cashed. In another scenario, elderly victims are contacted by a con artist on the phone, who tells the elderly person they have won a lottery or sweepstakes prize but must send money to Jamaica to pay taxes. Where it happened: In South Florida